Walking School Bus

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Walking School Bus
www.airvictoria.org
www.pvahec.org
http//www.detar.com/
www.visd.com
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Program Objectives

• INCREASE
• daily physical activity for children and adults
• safety for pedestrians in the neighborhood
• community cohesion by helping neighbors get to
  know one another
• DECREASE
• traffic and idling in and around the neighborhood
  and school to improve air quality
• crime when more people are outside keeping an eye
  on their neighborhood

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Whats a Walking School Bus?

• an adult 'driver' at the front
• an adult 'conductor or caboose' bringing up the
  rear
• children walk to school in a group along a set
  route
• pick up additional 'passengers' at specific
  'bus-stops' along the way

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Buses are different!

• bus may run rain or shine
• some buses operate only on certain days
• other buses operate only in morning or afternoon
• buses are designed to suit each school or
  neighborhood
• everyone wears a reflective jacket

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Kids on the Bus

• chat with their friends
• are more ready to learn when they arrive at
  school
• learn valuable road safety skills
• gain some independence

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Parents on the bus

• become the eyes of the neighborhood
• identify problem intersections
• provide safety for bus walkers

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Community and the bus

• reduces auto traffic near schools during drop-off
  and pick-up times
• reduced traffic improves air quality
• parents students work together

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Healthy lifestyles on the bus

• encourages healthy exercise habits

parents let their children walk to school more
often if children are in a safe, supervised
group
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Getting results on the bus

• ½ hour walking/day cuts the risk of heart disease
  by ½
• reduces risk of cancers, diabetes, obesity,
  osteoporosis improves mental health
• experts recommend physical activity for at least
  half an hour a day for at least 5 days a week
• 1 mile walk to school and back takes ½ hour and
  burns 150 calories
• walking 10,000 steps a day is equal to a 5 mile
  stretch

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How do we get started?

• Talk with local coordinators to design your
  walking school bus program
• Implement the program in your school
• Fill out one simple annual evaluation
• Reflective vests are provided free of charge by

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http//www.walkingschoolbus.org/
For more info please contact Joni Brown _at_
361.485.3235 or at jbrown_at_victoriatx.org